#WAR

#WAR
 
In baseball, there is a sabermetric called WAR.  That stands for Wins Above Replacement.  In essence, this statistic creates a hypothetical player considered to be run of the mill average player at their position.  Let me restate, this player does not exist in reality, but is a place of measurement of what an average player would look like.  It calculates a player’s complete contribution to the team.  It takes into consideration all parts of the game:  hitting, running, and defense (there are different metrics for pitchers). 
 
Using this is a metaphor, what if we were to create a WAR for the president.  Since the president is so fond of #winning, what if he were judged against an average replacement president.  For the purposes of this argument, I will suggest that the average president sticks with the status quo.  Things don’t get better.  Things don’t get worse.  Average.
 
So, we would need to construct some metrics.  Now, normally this would be done with numbers, but I don’t have the statistical expertise (although I do stats) to construct something like this.  So, we are going to look at the big picture. 
 
I will consider the following topics:
Economics
Stock Market
Freedom of the Press
Human Rights
National Perception
International Perception
International Relations
Education
Environment and Climate
Poverty
Immigration
 
Using these markers, how would our current president compare to a replacement.  If the president is above average, I will give a point.  If nothing is different.  If things are worse, a point will be deduced. 
 
Economics:  This is a tricky one.    There are many measures of the economy. 
Employment—Unemployment is low, really low.  While there is underemployment, +1.
Production—Production is high.  While the effect of the tariffs is only starting to hit, as of right now, +1.
Wages—Wages are stagnant.  While there is a slight increase, inflation is flat lining it.  Also, it is around 3%.  If you are making minimum wage, that is 21 cents., -1.
Spending—Spending is up, but that means fewer savings.  As the shutdown has shown, many are paycheck to paycheck, -1.
Corporate Profits—Way up, +1.
Trickle Down from Tax Cut—Nope.  Not much, -1.
Total: 0
 
Stock Market:  Damn.  This is tricky.  The market is volatile.  Perhaps more so than it has been in a long time.  Overall, the stock market is up.  But, if you look at long term trends of percentage growth, it is about the same.  While there was a huge grown in 2016, there was also a huge growth (about the same size) in 2013.  In fact, since 2009, there have only been two years of an average decline, 2015 and 2018.  The 2018 decline was twice as big (https://www.macrotrends.net/1319/dow-jones-100-year-historical-chart).  0
Total:  0
 
Freedom of the Press:  It is appalling.  There seems to be something now called the Fake News.  It was created by the creator of the most fake news.  Credentials are being revoked.  Journalists threatened.  Propoganda abounds.  -1
Total: -1
 
Human Rights:  So, we have had tons of rollbacks.  From religion to skin color to gender to sexuality to socio-economic status to health, the Trump administration is attacking human rights (unless you are white).  Too many to list, but feel free to browse (https://civilrights.org/trump-rollbacks/).
-1
 
National Perception:  There is a solid 40% that worships at the feet of Trump.  No matter what he says or does, they are fine.  The other 60%.  Well, no.  At all.  So, while supporters are fervent in their support (and loud), that overall national perception isn’t great (https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/president_trump_job_approval-6179.html).
-1
 
International Perception: According to the Pew Research Center, the international confidence in Trump stands at 27%.  In fact, confidence change from Obama to Trump has dropped 76 points in Germany (https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/international-view-of-trump-735190/).  -1
 
International Relations:  Let’s see.  Met with North Korea.  Looks like they are still building bombs.  Insulted Trudeau on an international stage.  Alienating much of Europe.  Love affair with Putin.  Dissolving nuclear arms treaty.  Not a pretty picture.
-1
 
Education:  There is a strong movement by the Department of Education to gut public education, rollback diversity policy, and increase funding to charter schools and vouchers.  -1
 
Environment and Climate:  According to the National Geographic Society, Trump has rolled back many policies that we aimed at slowing climate change.  In addition, all of the following have occurred (https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/03/how-trump-is-changing-science-environment/) :
Executive order calls for sharp logging increase on public lands
EPA criminal enforcements hit 30-year low
Trump nominates Andrew Wheeler to permanent EPA job (former coal lobbyist)
Trump Administration Rolls Back Obama-Era Coal Rules
Interior Eases Drilling Controls Protecting Sage Grouse
First offshore oil wells approved for the Arctic
EPA to Disband Air Pollution Review Panel
-1
 
Poverty:  Since Trump took office, he has worked with Republicans to gut assistance programs, food stamps, children’s insurance programs, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development proposed rent increases for low cost housing. 
-1
 
Immigration:  Well, Mexico didn’t pay for the wall.  In fact, the government was shut down over the wall.  A false narrative of immigrants has been created so that some people have someone to blame.  Are there many people that entered the country illegally?  Yes.  Did some of them work for Trump on his properties?  Yep.  This manufactured emergency is just that. 
-1
 
So, when we total it up, it would appear that Trump is a -8 compared to a fictional, average president.  What does this mean?  Things aren’t working.
 
I say we contact some other countries.  Perhaps we could make a trade.  Trump and his cabinet for some other world leaders. 
 
Who would you trade for?  Or would you just trade them for cash considerations and we have a new draft?